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By: Caitlin Behles | April 30, 2018 - 10:13am

On April 4, 2018, the UN Human Rights Committee, the body that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), released a report finding that Maldives violated ex-President Mohamed Nasheed’s right to a fair trial and concluding that the state must let stand for office. According to the press release, “UN human rights experts found that the judicial proceedings in which Mr. Nasheed was convicted were based on vague legislation, contained serious flaws and violated his right to a fair trial under the [ICCPR]” and that the restrictions placed on his right to stand for office violated Article 25 of the ICCPR (right to political participation). The Committee directed Maldives to quash the conviction, reconsider the charges against him in light of this report, and conduct a new trial if that review deems it fit. The Committee Vice-Chair also noted, “As a party to the ICCPR, Maldives is obliged to make full reparation to individuals whose rights have been violated. We have asked Maldives to inform us within 180 days about the measures they have taken to implement our decision.”